Go check out the Information Week interview with Mark Kingdon written by the always-lovable Mitch Wagner. Also check out the Technology Review Q&A, from which I shamelessly lifted the source image for my LOLMark above (and simultaneously flouted Linden Lab’s policy against displaying their “Marks”. Wakka wakka.) Just don’t listen to the sound clip, it’s bad audio quality and he says “Um” a lot. Not at all flattering for the CEO-to-be.

He may not be as pretty as Philip Rosedale, but he has all the qualifications for the job: a passing familiarity with SL (although he’s going to have to make another alt now that his secret identity is out), lipservice towards businesses and the creative types, and most importantly, the “tech startup CEO” hair. Lookin’ sharp, tiger!

But seriously, he does seem like a pretty good fit, judging from his previous experience. And his emphasis on improving user experience (including platform stability) is good to hear. He does seem to have this strange notion that he’ll be influencing how Linden Lab does things, but I’m sure Philip will get around to letting him know that the job actually only entails travelling, giving talks, and writing feel-good blog posts at random intervals.

You’ve seen it, too. The steady march as Linden Lab changes from its freewheeling trippy hippie culture to the gray, legalistic, impersonal corporate culture. LL is tearing SL up by the roots, and alienating its long-time supporters, the people who have made Second Life worth living.

We’ve suffered through some objectionable moves before. Cory Linden being fired for his Pastafarian views. The Windlight, Havok4, and Dazzle projects stripping Second Life of the old tools that got us this far. LL’s refusal to deal more harshly with those despicable content thieves that are tearing the shirts off the backs of content creators and forcing them to pose nude for posters advertising content theft.

All those things I could tolerate, if only out of nostalgic longing for the Second Life that I once knew. But Linden Lab’s latest move, I simply cannot abide by.

I am referring, of course, to Linden Lab deliberately replacing Ruth, the very token—nay, the true trademark of Second Life.

Ruth was something that every Resident could identify with, most often on weekends during heavy asset server load. She reminded us that deep down in our hearts, no matter how much we spend on greased-up super-photorealistic skins and flexisculptyprim hair, we’re all just a short, awkward woman that waddles like a duck.

Ruth was the last vestige of our cultural heritage, the last thing I could hold on to and remind myself, “This is the heart of what it means to be in Second Life.” With Ruth being killed off, I can’t stand to log in to this virtual sham-world. It’s too painful; the login screen says “Second Life”, but it bears little resemblance to the Second Life I knew and loved!

Therefore, I’ve made the difficult decision to log out of Second Life permanently. My inventory and estate will be divided among my numerous secret alts: Gwyneth Llewelyn, Philip and Torley Linden, Lightwave Object, Tateru Nino, two-thirds of the furry population, and that guy who griefed Anshe Chung with the prim genitalia that one time. To the few SL avatars who are not under my control, I’d like to say goodbye, and thanks for all the squid.

Squidograms are back! A fresh stock of trained courier squids has just come in from off the coast of beautiful Ireland, and are ready for sale!

Read all about it on the cuddlefishalicious Cuddlefish Junction blog, or just go and get some right now!

Looking for all the bubbly details about the new, soon-to-be released Cuddlefish Junction Bubble Ride? I can’t blame ya, so am I!

Luckily, there are bloggy posts for just such an occasion! Here’s a bubbly teaser to pique your bubbly interest:

Just give the bubble-maker horn a little squeeze, and out comes a giant soap bubble — hop on, and you’re swooped up by the wind, floating through the air and drifting over the world.

And don’t forget to drop by Cuddlefish Junction this Saturday, March 15 at 3PM or 9PM SLT for the bubble launch parties!

Woooo, bubble party, March 15 at 3PM and 9PM SLT!

Wowzers, Squidograms are selling like hotcakes! I guess people must like the slimy personal touch that comes with expressing your love via cephalopod courier! And really, who can blame them for that?

Anyway, in response to the fantastic demand for squiddy action (see, I knew I wasn’t the only one!), and to save you guys from Repetitive Stress Injury in your mouse-clicking finger, I’ve set out Squidogram Multipacks! Now you can buy 5 or 10 Squidograms in one shot!

But remember, these loverly Kissing Squidograms are only available through today! (Actually until whenever I wake up tomorrow morning/afternoon.)

So tell that special someone how much they excite your neural fibers and make your chromatophores quiver and dilate with glee!

Just a reminder for those hoping to send some squiddy action to their loved ones: I’ll be taking the special Valentine’s Day edition Kissing Squidogram off the shelves on Feb 15! You’ve only got a few days left to express your romantical feelings via kissing cephalopod, so you’d better drop by Cuddlefish Junction soon!

Two takes on it. I’m partial to the cutout version on top, myself.

P.S. The B may, or may not, stand for (or look like) Bootah.

Flowers? Boring. Jewelry? Too much bling. Chocolate? Yummy, but cliché.

This Valentine’s Day, give your special someone a gift they’ll never be able to forget!

The Cuddlefish Junction Kissing Squidogram is a little bit like a candygram… except instead of a box of candy, the recipient gets a squid attached to their face! The Kissing Squidogram comes with a trained (and rather amorous) squid in a lovely decorative bucket; the squid will pop out, deliver a personalized message to your sweetie, then give them a big kiss on the lips!

And you know nothing says I love you and I can’t keep my tentacles off you quite like a kissing squid!

Each Squidogram is just L$50, but you’d better hurry — after February 14, this special edition Kissing Squidogram with V-Day colors is being taken off the shelves and shipped to my secret underwater lair to join my Cephalopod World Domination Force.

…Oops, did I type that out loud?